New home for KWEX Univision

Published 10:56 am, Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The first show is produced in the control room at the new Univision studio off De Zavala Road in Northwest San Antonio.

The first show is produced in the control room at the new Univision studio off De Zavala Road in Northwest San Antonio.

Photo: Abbey Oldham / San Antonio Express-News

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The sales and traffic department has a unique look at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

The sales and traffic department has a unique look at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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The first show is produced in the control room at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

The first show is produced in the control room at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Anchors prepare for the first show at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

Anchors prepare for the first show at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Awards line the hallway at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

Awards line the hallway at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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The new Despierta San Antonio studio sits at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

The new Despierta San Antonio studio sits at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Anchors prepare for the first show at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

Anchors prepare for the first show at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Anchors prepare for the first show at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

Anchors prepare for the first show at the new Univision studio on Network Road in San Antonio on Monday, July 29, 2013. Univision had been at its former location for over 50 years.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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New home for KWEX Univision

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The recent move by KWEX Univision San Antonio to the Northwest Side marked a new era for the first TV station in the country to broadcast in Spanish. The move came as its network became No. 1 in the nation this month, beating out ABC, CBS and NBC in Nielsen ratings to grab the coveted 18-49 demographic.

The 43,200-square-foot building off De Zavala Road cost more than $10 million, station and network officials said. It has state-of-the-art technology, and its telecasts will be broadcast in high definition for the first time.

“Now when you see us go to network, you're not going to notice the difference between newscasts,” said public affairs director Brenda Jimenez.

The station, which had its first broadcast from its new headquarters on July 29, moved out of its building along the banks of the San Antonio River downtown last month. Its new home has a bigger control room, newsroom, two studios and a full kitchen from which it can broadcast food segments.

By summer's end, it also will house Univision Radio, and still have room to grow, “should the network want to expand in San Antonio, ” said Luis Patiño, who oversees eight Univision markets including San Antonio and Austin. “We have the room.”

Earlier this month, KWEX-TV signed a three-year deal with Texas A&M University-San Antonio that will allow the station to maintain a presence downtown.

The station is leasing space for a high-definition TV studio in the university's educational and cultural arts center in the former home of the Museo Alameda in Market Square.

By mid-September, Univision plans to build a 1,200-square-foot studio from which to broadcast “Despierta San Antonio,” local break-in segments for the national “Despierta America.” It also will air news segments from the satellite location on its 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts.